Solving Brake Noise Complaints
Most brake complaints will be squeak-related, with the common metal-on-metal grinding taking a close second. To a lesser extent, you’ll also get some knocking complaints. The best way to deal with brake squeal is to prevent it in the first place. While we’re all familiar with brake service, it never hurts to review good practices.
Brake Lubricants 101
Under extreme driving conditions, some lubricants can’t stand brake heat and melt off, evaporate, oxidize or burn. That’s why ordinary, general-purpose chassis grease should never be used for lubricating brake components. What’s needed is a specially formulated, high-temperature brake grease that can withstand the heat, and also not harm rubber seals or plastic bushings.
Worn Shocks and Struts Kill: Do I Have Your Attention Now?
Can’t sell shocks and struts? What is your excuse? Do you blame the economy, customer income or even how well late-model vehicles are manufactured? There should be no excuse when it comes to recommending new shocks and struts. By not recommending these items, you are doing the customer a greater disservice than stealing change out
Brake And Bearing Basics
Bearings are the forgotten brake service item. Today’s cars and light trucks don’t require much maintenance. Spark plugs last 100,000 miles, long-life coolants can go five years or 150,000 miles (whichever comes first), and some filters have no recommended replacement interval (such as in-tank fuel filters). But sooner or later, one thing all vehicles eventually
Back2Basics 5: Step-by-Step vehicle alignment
Even with today’s high-tech cars, SUVs and light trucks, alignment remains an important service option for drivers and dealers alike. This installment in our Back2Basics series reviews the basics of performing a standard two- and four-wheel alignment.
Chassis Parts Overview
The demand for replacement chassis parts has remained fairly steady in recent years. The demand for replacement parts is a function of vehicle age and miles driven. In a soft economy, people are keeping their vehicles longer than ever before. The average age of all cars and light trucks today is at an all-time high
Suspension and Steering System Maintenance
The most noticeable symptom of spring wear is a sagging suspension system or uneven vehicle ride height. Less common are springs that break due to metal fatigue or to a stress riser caused by corrosion or physical damage on the spring’s surface.
Subaru Service Essentials
Building a planned process for servicing a customer’s vehicle is something to consider. You can start the service sales process by becoming informed on what you can do that will not affect a customer’s factory warranty, then determine the minimum necessary to maintain the warranty so you can service the customer from day one.
Alignment Specs: Thrust Angle and Setback
The thrust angle is an imaginary line drawn perpendicular to the rear axle’s centerline. It compares the direction that the rear axle is aimed with the centerline of the vehicle. It also confirms if the rear axle is parallel to its front axle and that the wheelbase on both sides of the vehicle is the
Torque-To-Yield Suspension Components
What do some ball joints, tie rods and suspension components have in common with engines? The answer is Torque-to-Yield fasteners. These bolts and studs that stretch are becoming more common on vehicles not just under the hood, but also under the car.